Migraine Expert Megan Oltman shares Migraine management news and commentary at MyMigraineConnection.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175 http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175 http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/92804/withholding-cruel Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:12:00 -0400 Megan Oltman Part of the Bill of Rights, the 8th Amendment to the United States Constitution, guarantees that prisoners shall not be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment. This clause prohibits torture and has been widely cited in support of abolishing the death penalty. It also forbids the withholding of medical treatment from prisoners in need of treatment. A prisoner in need of medical care has nowhere to go but the prison authorities. To... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/92804/withholding-cruel http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/87176/migraines-license Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:05:00 -0400 Megan Oltman I wrote last time about how Migraines and driving, as well as some Migraine medications and driving, don't mix (Migraines & Driving Don't Mix). To generalize, in most cases so far, driving while impaired by the effects of Migraine medications has been considered DUI, and liability has been imposed; but driving while impaired by the effects of the Migraine itself has not led to liability. Given the logical underpinnings of these cases,... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/87176/migraines-license http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/85090/migraines-driving Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:58:00 -0400 Megan Oltman Migraines and driving don't mix. Unless you’re brand new to Migraine disease, this is not news to you. Who among us hasn't had to plan around getting a ride, or plan when to take our medication based on whether we could get a ride? There are all kinds of reasons not to drive with a Migraine.  • If the pain is bad enough, most of us can barely move around, let alone drive. • If it’s not so bad and we feel capable... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/85090/migraines-driving http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/82667/disability-cracks Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:20:00 -0400 Megan Oltman As I have been writing articles about your legal rights in working with Migraine disease, I've been getting a lot of questions from those who feel they are falling through the cracks in the legal system. On one hand, there are protections if Migraines interfere with your work somewhat; there's total disability at the other end if you can't work at all. What about that large area in between the two? This is an example of where legal advice... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/82667/disability-cracks http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/80191/protecting-rights Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:07:00 -0400 Megan Oltman I've brought you several articles about your rights at work as a person who may be disabled by Migraines, and the protections afforded you under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act). From some of the comments it has become clear to me that many people feel that having the laws in place is not enough to make their employers understand or behave appropriately, or put more crudely, having the laws in... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/80191/protecting-rights http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/75416/bringing-fmla-ada Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:07:00 -0400 Megan Oltman How do you work with Migraines? Migraine disease is recognized by the World Health Organization as one of top 20 most disabling conditions worldwide, and this is no surprise to any of us who have tried to function during a severe Migraine attack. It is possible to receive disability status if your Migraines are frequent and severe enough, and I will be writing more about that soon. For most of us, disability will not be the best option - for... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/75416/bringing-fmla-ada http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/74237/work-intermittent Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:51:00 -0400 Megan Oltman We have had a number of members of this site who have successfully applied for and been granted Intermittent Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) status, allowing them to take unpaid time off from work due to their Migraines.  I'm writing this article to make you aware of the availability of the FMLA for intermittent leave for Migraines and other chronic illnesses, the requirements and some considerations in applying for and using the... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/74237/work-intermittent http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/72385/hipaa-information Thu, 28 May 2009 18:41:00 -0400 Megan Oltman What are my Rights under HIPAA?   When we go to a new doctor, and even periodically at our established doctors' offices, we have to sign forms informing us of the office's privacy practices under HIPAA. If you are like most of us, it's one more boring piece of paper to look at and sign before you can get to what you really came for: seeing the doctor.  Maybe you read all of it, but I wouldn't bet that many of us do!  Maybe you... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/72385/hipaa-information http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/68921/disabilities-act Mon, 04 May 2009 13:04:00 -0400 Megan Oltman How can you keep working with Migraines? What does your employer have to do to help?  Last week we talked about McBride v. City of Detroit, where a chemically sensitive employee made out enough of a case under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to withstand a motion to dismiss. Her employer had refused to put in a perfume-free workplace policy as an accommodation to her disability.  Perfume is one of many Migraine triggers we... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/68921/disabilities-act http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/67623/disabilities-act Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:40:00 -0400 Megan Oltman It happens to Migraineurs again and again - we go to work and the people around us wear perfumes or strong scented deodorants or lotions or aftershaves.  Their scents trigger Migraines, and we can't work.  We have to go home, use our sick leave, maybe our pay is docked.  Our work performance suffers, our budget suffers.  If we complain to our employer, we are often told to put up with it.  Or we are told that the... http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/11175/67623/disabilities-act